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Solidarity with dismissed unionists in Turkey

21 February 2017

Ms. Gülüzar ATES, is a union representative and has been working for the Bureau of Labourers Union (a member of KESK) for the past 14 years. She is one of the thousands of Turkish public employees who were removed from their jobs after the attempted coup of 15 July 2016.

Ms. Gülüzar ATES was fired from her civil servant role via the Decree Laws drawn up after the attempted coup. She has written a letter to PSI asking for solidarity for her and her fellow public sector workers in Turkey who are affected by the laws.

Until recently, public employees in Turkey have enjoyed job stability, gained after many years of struggle. However, the Decree Laws have put an end to it.

Most of the recent dismissals are not covered by severance pay, and retirement bonuses have been cancelled. In addition, the state has transferred the money due to the workers to a state account.

Since the attempted coup, 97,679 public employees have been removed from their jobs and 2,550 of them are KESK members. Many of them are public workers with management roles in unions affiliated to KESK.

PSI offers our full support to Gülüzar ATES and to all KESK members, especially those who have lost their jobs under the pretext of the attempted coup in Turkey.

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Public Services International is a global trade union federation representing 20 million working women and men who deliver vital public services in 154 countries. PSI champions human rights, advocates for social justice and promotes universal access to quality public services. PSI works with the United Nations system and in partnership with labour, civil society and other organisations.